News — Irvine, CA - (October 10, 2018) - The University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business has launched a new Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the first and only program of its kind in the UC system.
Students enroll with just the grain of an idea to start a business, or to profitably grow an established organization in an inventive way. Nine months later, they graduate with a plan to innovate — plus the knowledge, skills and network to do so.
Applications are currently being accepted for a fall 2019 start.
The Merage School designed this nine-month, full-time accelerated Master’s degree in close collaboration with business leaders in Orange County to ensure it provides graduates the tools and connections they need to launch successful startups or to grow at established companies by applying innovative “intrapreneurial” strategies.
Today’s competitive, digitally driven business world rewards practiced problem solvers. The Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program educates ambitious entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to take on tough business challenges with the necessary knowledge, resources, tools, network and roadmap.
“So many entrepreneurs are deeply knowledgeable about the science, engineering or technology aspects of their ideas, but have blind spots when it comes to the business aspects,” says Imran Currim, the director of the Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a UCI distinguished professor. “We fill those blind spots using cutting-edge course work, practical workshops and intensive co-curricular activities.”
“By the time they graduate, our students are able to strategically build teams and foster collaboration. They can create new markets and redefine existing ones, finance a business and grow it,” Currim adds. “They gain practical skills in budgeting, venture capital and business law. They are ready to innovate in the digital age.”
From the beginning of the program and for its entirety, students are matched with a mentor who offers guidance, advice and support, plus resources and connections with the local business community. The case-based curriculum requires students to work in teams and engage in hands-on learning in a collaborative environment, while taking startup-focused field trips to Silicon Valley, the Tech Coast and other locations in California. Students learn from each other as they solve problems together.
The courses cover essential topics, such as the process of innovation and entrepreneurship, identifying new venture opportunities, developing a business model, preparing a business plan, assembling a team, raising the necessary financing, tapping venture capital and launching a business. Beyond the classroom, students participate in co-curricular events and activities, and have direct access to a rich ecosystem of startups and established businesses across a range of industries for which UCI is the hub.
“Our focus on equipping innovators to succeed in today’s digitally driven business world is what sets us apart, and our groundbreaking new Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship program is no different. Aspiring entrepreneurs – and intrapreneurs – graduate with the tools and connections to compete,” says Merage School Dean Eric Spangenberg. “The program is the culmination of years of hard work and close collaboration with entrepreneurially-minded community supporters and business leaders across Orange County.”
About The Paul Merage School of Business
The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine offers four dynamic MBA programs – plus PhD, specialty masters and undergraduate business degrees – that prepare business leaders for our digitally driven world. Through our programs, students acquire the exceptional ability to grow their organizations through strategic innovation, analytical decision-making, digital information technology and collaborative execution. While the Merage School is relatively young, it has quickly grown to rank consistently among the top five percent of all business programs worldwide through exceptional student recruitment, world-class faculty, a strong alumni network and close relationships with both individual business executives and global corporations. Additional information is available at merage.uci.edu.
About The Paul Merage School of Business
The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine offers four dynamic MBA programs – plus PhD, specialty masters and undergraduate business degrees – that prepare business leaders for our digitally driven world. Through our programs, students acquire the exceptional ability to grow their organizations through strategic innovation, analytical decision-making, digital information technology and collaborative execution. While the Merage School is relatively young, it has quickly grown to rank consistently among the top five percent of all business programs worldwide through exceptional student recruitment, world-class faculty, a strong alumni network and close relationships with both individual business executives and global corporations. Additional information is available at merage.uci.edu.
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